simone in snow!

After xmas in virginia,  i returned to an even snowier mountain with the most amazing icicle snow queen entrance to the front door...

I love having my best pals come visit.  Since we're so used to getting together in a city, you get to bond in this new and important way.  i had the best time with simone this week!  and i never knew her to be so adventurous.  we all took a huge back woods style snow shoe walk following a stream through the valley between our mountain and the next all the way down to a beaver pond.  our first cross was mellow, and the second one was too - but simone wanted the hard way and crossed over a huge fallen log that was resting over an 8 foot drop.

hard core!

other outings included a visit to the fairbanks natural history museum where i saw my first stuffed polar bear :(  also-  a puffer fish hat, whale tooth necklace, peacock, and

"bug art"

these are all beetles and butterflies

other highlights....

 electric sunset 

ironic shopping at walmart

the impossible glow in the dark white tiger emerging from ocean puzzle

and tie dying undies

not pictured - making vermont snow cones (snow + maple syrup), star gazing, and snow mobile ride in the dark!  it was the perfect way to end the year. 

happy '09 everyone 

derek fun times

derek came to visit us straight from uganda, africa!

while he was here, the following went down:

 tie-dye party in the kitchen

finished this epic native puzzle

went to woodstock for the day and had fancy warm cocktails in an old restaurant

filled with palm trees and ornaments hanging from the ceiling

went night sledding with an almost full moon

pond shoveled and we all went skating...

and built a mini bonfire on it

iced cookies

and left for NYC with a xmas tree and our bags in a sled

xmas tree

we went on a big trek looking for the perfect xmas tree, and ended up with one right in front of the house... he's a little lopsided, and doesn't have long branches on one side, as he's been leaning against other trees his whole life.  he's kind of skinny too - it took only 3 axe swings for dylan to bring him down. we got into the holiday spirit real early -- its hard to resist when there's that much snow...

see -- no arms

merry xmas!

plow the way to montreal

WOW internet is different up here and we've exceeded our "threshold" of maximum use for about 2 week nows, and its finally getting back to normal.  but we still don't have internet at night.   

There was a massive snow storm on the day we were going to leave for Montreal for my birthday trip.  We had our car parked at the house and had a crazy hectic time getting it down the mountain.  Dylan hand shoveled the driveway up (after the he jump started the suburban with attached plow rig that didn't work) and then we called around town to find someone who could plow, but it was hard to pin anyone down, because its apparently still hunting season.  The snow was super thick, wet --  and heavy enough to make the huge plow truck that ended up getting us out, spin around  like crazy. 

WHITE OUT

 

Then we went to Montreal that night! They didn't ask to see our passports at the Canadian border and we had very thorough stories ready to spill -- but were very happy when they weren't requested.  We stayed in Old Montreal which is cobbled stoned and beautiful. Our hotel the second night had a fireplace, stone walls, and old beamed ceilings and a massive bathroom.  Dylan took me to the most amazing restaurant on my birthday, and we walked around a lot, went to a museum, and a concert.   No thanksgiving for me this year!  

In our stone walled hotel (yes i have a golden camera)

Famous church (celine dion got married there)

I have lots more to update, but need to conserve threshold

x L

Sarah

Sarah is one of my best friends who lives in nyc and she flew up to vermont for the weekend to see how it all goes up here and start my birthday celebration with spirit. 

After we went antique and rummage sale shopping in waterbury (sarah scored amazing sewing box, native purse and other trinkets, I got candle holder and trivial pursuit for $1) we went on a tour of the Ben + Jerry's ice cream factory.

We made dinners at home and put up xmas lights in the kitchen. much more festive!

We went to this huge thanksgiving farmer's market on Saturday morning in Montpelier.  We had the best green kombucha and dylan bought a "mother" so we can start making the tea at home. Then we all walked around downtown Montpelier and had lunch.  It was super snowy, so we decided sledding and hot toddies were in order before bday dinner....

I made dinner for them from the new cookbook sarah got me and then we played a ripping game of twos, made smores, played pin the tail on the donkey (so funny - especially after 2 bottles of wine), and then had a dance party. 

It was a perfect weekend. Thank you, Sarah! xoxo

snow falls, mail arrives

The snow has started and I'm getting excited for all the winter wonderland activities that lay ahead. I know that snow also means buying snow tires, driving up a mountain to get home, and being snowed in - but those things might be exciting too.   We both bought ice skates and I bought a pair of snow shoes on monday at a consignment sporting goods store called Play it Again, Sports (clever) and I'm positive the man helping us thought we were a little over eager. Dylan did tell him that he "couldn't wait to start shoveling!"  BUT i'll have you know the pond is starting to freeze over, it changes daily. 

Yesterday:

Today:

The mail is something we really look forward to.  Anything to do with it; going to the post office to pick up or mail a package, anticipating the sound of the UPS truck, walking down to the mailbox (1/3 mile down mountain) to look in the box or to put our mail in and let up the red flag.  Yesterday we walked down in the snow, and noticed this cute little fawn statue in front of a house down by the mailbox.  Then I looked closer and noticed the holes in it! Because they practice hunting on him! ah! where I am?

You'll notice there's a home made vibe to our mailbox.  Its because Dylan rigged it in there himself with found wood objects, and I made the numbers with black electrical tape.  But its getting the job done. We like it.

If you'd like to be part of the joy:

405 Dow Rd

Washington, VT 05675

xoxo

give me some skylight

i think i work better when i make a candlelight vigil/seance on the piano (yesterday was most productive - it's not a coincidence!)

dylan's studio upstairs has a skylight

this is the view... since we're so high up on the mountain, it gets really misty and foggy - like we're in a cloud (or a dream?)

homemade pizza for dinner.  this was mine with ricotta, spinach, olives and artichokes.  dylan wouldn't let me photograph his, but it was really good- fresh mozzarella + sauce.

and today is the mistiest i've ever seen it. maybe we'll take a walk through it later. hope i don't get lost